Pattie Maes is the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Professor of the Media, Arts and Sciences program at MIT. An expert in computer interaction and artificial intelligence, TIME Digital has regarded Pattie as a member of the cyber-elite. She is now available to speak at a range of events on why every organisation needs an augmented reality strategy, cyborgs and the future of work and the next wave of human-computer technology.
At MIT, Pattie serves as the Director of the Fluid Interfaces Research Group – a group that she founded. She was previously the Founder of the Software Agents group at MIT. A visionary in every sense of the term, Pattie’s 2009 TED talk “Unveiling game-changing wearable tech” where she demonstrates a wearable device that has a projector and forges a new connection with our environment, has gathered over 2.1 million views on YouTube. She has also delivered the TEDx Talk “Human Machine Symbiosis”, where she hypothesized that humans have become cyborgs, based on their increasing reliance on electronic devices. Her unique and well-researched notions are the reason behind the World Economic Forum honouring her with the Global Leader of Tomorrow title.
Recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pattie’s alma mater where she completed her Bachelor’s degree and PhD in Computer Science, she co-founded Firefly in 1993. In 1998, Firefly was bought by Microsoft. The year 2000 was fortuitous for Pattie, she gained immense recognition for her work in the form of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council, and her inclusion in Newsweek Magazine’s 100 Americans to Watch For list.
In her nearly 33 years of service as the Associate Department Head of the Media, Arts and Sciences Department at MIT, as well as a Professor in the department, Pattie is a revered figure in the field. She has edited three books and is on the editorial board, reviewing professional journals and conferences. Included in FastCompany’s 50 Most Influential Designers list in 2011, she advises and invests in numerous MIT spinoff. Now available to share her expertise to her audience, Pattie Maes is an excellent speaker. Engaging and entertaining, she is bound to leave her audience more inquisitive about the future of work and the next wave of human-computer technology and augmented reality strategies in organisations.
